Roggvir, a Nordwarrior, is a citizen of Solitude who worked as a city guard. According to his sister Greta, he opened the city gates to allow Ulfric Stormcloak into the city when he first came with the hidden intention of challenging the then-High King Torygg. After Ulfric killed Torygg in the challenge, he tried to escape the city, and Roggvir again opened the gate for him. Accounts of the incident vary wildly among the citizens; most claim that he was an accomplice in the murder. Greta believes that he was doing his job, and had no way of knowing what Ulfric had done.

Upon entering Solitude for the first time, Roggvir will be publicly executed near the main gate. With his final words, he justifies Ulfric's killing of the king, stating that the challenge was posed and conducted in accordance with Nordic tradition, and therefore was not a crime.

Svari: "They can't hurt uncle Roggvir. Tell them he didn't do it."Captain Aldis: "Positions."Addvar: "Svari, you need to go home. Go home and stay there until your mother comes."Captain Aldis: "Lock the city gate."Vivienne Onis: "You should tell her that her uncle is scum that betrayed his High King. Best she know now, Addvar."Addvar: "You're all heart, Vivienne."Captain Aldis: "Roggvir. You helped Ulfric Stormcloak escape this city after he murdered High King Torygg. By opening that gate for Ulfric you betrayed the people of Solitude."Beirand: "Traitor!"Sorex Vinius: "He doesn't deserve to speak!"Roggvir: "There was no murder! Ulfric challenged Torygg. He beat the High King in fair combat."Taarie: "Liar!"Roggvir: "Such as our way! Such as the ancient custom of Skyrim, and all Nords!"Jala: "Booooo."'Sorex Vinius: "Booooo."Vivienne Onis: "Cut em [sic]down!"Taarie: "Booooo."Captain Aldis: "Guard. Prepare the prisoner."Roggvir: "I don't need your help."Captain Aldis: "Very well, Roggvir. Bow your head."Roggvir: "On this day... I go to Sovngarde."

Roggvir's death is scripted, making it impossible to save him. If you start a fight with the guards and Roggvir survives for too long, he will be teleported to a test room and be killed by the resident NPC.

If you enter Solitude for the first time through the side gate, you will hear the execution taking place, but you may miss seeing it if you don't head over to the main gate in time. Regardless of whether or not you see it, dialogue options with NPCs will appear as if you had witnessed the execution.

After the Battle for Solitude, the Stormcloak soldiers will have different dialogue about Roggvir's death depending on whether or not the city was visited before starting the quest.

Though he says he is going to Sovngarde, he does not appear when you visit it.

Picking up the amulet before receiving the quest may make the quest uncompletable, as well as marking the amulet as a quest item. If this happens, you will be unable to drop the amulet, and any further amulets of Talos you pick up will stack and add weight.